First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing First Draft - Ethan Rutherford (Returns Again)
Jun 16, 2025
In this engaging dialogue, Ethan Rutherford, author and creative writing instructor at Trinity College, dives into the depths of his novel 'North Sun.' He explores the adventurous world of whaling, intertwining mythology with personal reflection. Rutherford discusses the musicality in writing, the transformative power of storytelling, and how his father's memory influences his creative process. The conversation spills into class dynamics, examining privilege and survival amidst capitalism, all enriched by humor and introspection.
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Writing Alaska Took Years
- Ethan Rutherford struggled for years to write about Alaska in a short story but found the idea kept pulling him back for a novel.
- His kids' growing independence allowed him to revisit and finally complete the Alaska-based novel 'North Sun'.
Sea Voyage Fuels Narrative Space
- Writing a sea voyage offers a tight narrative space and vast imaginative freedom.
- Being confined on a ship forces characters to confront each other, heightening drama within an expansive unknown ocean.
Short Chapters as Musical Vignettes
- Use short chapters as musical vignettes that resonate individually and collectively.
- This creates emotional focus and breathing room, avoiding dense prose in a novel's structure.
